Cinema Under the Stars: The Luang Prabang Film Festival
Every December, the UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang transforms. The humidity of the wet season has faded, replaced by the crisp, cool air of the Lao winter. But the real magic happens at what is now knows as the Blue Chair Film Festival. A massive screen is hoisted, and hundreds of blue plastic chairs appear across the 3 venues, all conveniently located close to each other in town.
The Blue Chair / Luang Prabang Film Festival (LPFF) is not your typical high-glitz Hollywood affair. There are no velvet ropes or $20 popcorn buckets. Instead, it is a celebration of Southeast Asian storytelling. In 2026, the festival continues its mission of bringing together filmmakers from across the ASEAN region to share stories that rarely make it to international multiplexes.
The event is a prime example of “cultural sustainability.” The festival provides a platform for Lao directors—who often work with shoestring budgets—to screen their work alongside giants from Thailand and Vietnam. It’s about more than just watching movies; it’s about the workshops, the talent labs, and the “Blue Chair” discussions that help build a local creative economy.
Travel Tip: If you are visiting during the festival 4-6 December 2026, book your accommodation months in advance. The town fills to the brim with artists and cinephiles. See https://bluechair.film/
Festival, Film, Laos, Luang Prabang, Travel
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